The PIT STOP Food Park at Congressional QC

Woke up a tad late and immediately got ready for a trip up north to check out some of the most happening food parks in the metro. This one is called PIT STOP at Congressional Avenue extension which is a couple minutes away from Luzon Avenue in Quezon City. It's easily searcheable in Google Maps and Uber so you won't really get lost. I was invited and got to see how much promise this place holds because as soon as I saw it on the highway, I got so excited to see a race track themed establishment in the flesh!

There was a small program hosted by no less than traffic hero and host James Deakin who got a couple of our friends from the blogosphere to try out the food. I didn't have breakfast yet and was ready for lunch so I ordered quite a lot in this new spot!

The Space

The place looked so masculine, built with strong and sturdy ship containers weld together with the top floors dedicated to a smoking area. It could probably fit 50-60 people at a time and they've got a lot of establishments to choose from. It's a bit industrial, modern and the goal was to make it look like a race track pit stop, so that's what we got. They've got ample parking space at the front of the food yard plus about 10-12 cars fit the space beside it. It sits right beside the highway so you won't get too hot as it's very breezy especially if you sit on the top floors like we did. 

This place can be reached by cabs, Uber and Grab, perhaps some jeepneys and buses but I'm not quite familiar with the route. Make sure you have Google Maps handy so you won't miss a turn because the uturn slots in this area are pretty far. 

The Food

The food in this park is pretty varied, probably designed that way so no merchant would have a dish available with the others (for some fair competition). I actually only tasted a few of them and there's so much more in this place that I haven't tried, I'm sure I'll come back very soon.

These burgers are from Sons of Burger and I chose the prettiest looking ones on their menu. The one on the left is called CHEESY MUSHROOM, a burger with a very meaty patty, tons of liuid cheese and button mushrooms - I ate it all in less than 5 minutes because we're bad@$$ like that LOL. The other one is called EL CAPITANO which uses the same beef patty, but had a sweet savory profile because they use caramelized onions on top, plus a toasted sweet bun glazed with butter on each side. It was pretty good, lightly seasoned (tell them if you need a bit more salt) and quite filling even if it only costs Php 139 like the rest of their burgers. I'll try their spicy ones when I come back.

These lovely food items are from the shop called NORI which is named after the dried seaweed they use to wrap sushi in Japanese dishes. They are known for doing a cross between sushi and burritos, then they wrap their dishes in sheets of nori. The one in the middle photo is the BEEF BULGOGI which has strips of beef, apples, carrots, cabbage and kimchi aioli. Whilst the last one is called SALMON UNAGI which consists of Salmon, slivers of peaches, cucumber, spring onions, unagi sauce and cream cheese. It's a bunch of strong flavors from fresh oriental ingredients (which I love) and the very unique sauce that comes with it - quite good actually.

For pasta lovers, meet MASTA PASTA. Their shack dishes out about 4 different types of pasta dishes and about 6 different varieties of pizzas. Only one of the pizzas cost Php 250 while the other items on the menu are under 200. So if you want something to share, this must be your best bet. I suggest you try their SEAFOOD PESTO as it's one of their best selllers. Order the THREE CHEESE if you want pizza to share with a friend especially if you are cheese addicts like me.

For those who want meat like me, order your favorite T-Bone, Porterhouse or Rib Eye steak from Brandon's Steak Hub. The priciest one they have is a little under 300 bucks and the side dishes are pretty good too. You don't have to spend a lot in this place to get your steak fix so cut down on rice and eat lots of these instead. It's seasoned well and they know how to grill. Make sure you tell them how you want your meat to be cooked as they'll gladly grill it in the spot. Slice and enjoy every bite, coz these are prettt darn good with wedges, grilled corn and their signature sauces. 

If you've got a sweet tooth and want more than the usual dessert, you can marvel at these SMORES and YEMA Cheesecake from CHINDERS Dessert Bar. They have some interesting smokinh lollipop type desserts too that have been frozen individually with Liquid Nitrogen that is sure to tickle your fancy. My advice is get some real good coffee or iced cold water and have the Yema Cheesecake, you wouldn't want to leave the place without it. Not totally guiltless, but worth every morsel of sugar you would want to ingest. 

For those who only want one thing, and one thing alone, these super huge bucket and unlimited servig of crabs only cost Php 599 per head at UNLI CRABS. If you heed the challenge, you can get to taste their wicked vinegar based sauce (balsamic I think) which goes so well with their cooked local crabs. You just know it'll be worth all the trouble of going there and enjoying it with your bros just because YOU CAN. They spiced up what they served us and it was so good, I even skipped those crab roes because it might get my blood pressure high. No sharing and leftovers please! :)

This one is from The FRUITLOCKER. They serve desserts with tons of fruit pieces and lovely ice cream on top. It's pretty cheap as well for Php 120 for the large one and Php 100 for the medium sized cup. Best for those who want something fresh and less sugary desserts.

For the piece de resistance, may I introduce to you IHAW LANG ANG IIBIGIN. They served grilled street products in huge sizes and pretty fancy varieties. The PORK BARBECUE costs Php 45 and is pretty big and juicy. They also serve the usual ISAW, but I would strongly suggest you get the INIHAW NA CHICHARONG BULAKLAK which just melts in your mouth and got bits of those crispy parts in it too as well. They serve it with their secret sauce which makes it absolutely crazy, it only costs Php 100 for three sticks. I am warning you, do not leave this place without having it because as much as we see how ordinary looking their stall is, this is the gem of this place so you've got to find it when you're in PIT STOP.

The PIT STOP Food Park is located at the Circumferrential Road 5 (C5) aka Congressional Road extention in Quezon City. Best to go here with friends and family if you want to enjoy a few bottles, good food and an ambiance that's pretty playful. Again, do not leave the place without the Inihaw na Chicharong Bulaklak, trust me on this. Click here for the map! https://goo.gl/maps/wEb1Y7q1Lbw

Thank me later!

Ogie Alcasid Does "NAKAKALOKAL" for World Vision

Spent the evening at Bo's Coffee in Tomas Morato to participate in the bloggers night for NAKAKALOKAL, a benefit concert of singer and composer par excellance Ogie Alcasid for World Vision and their projects against child exploitation, a very noble cause. 

Jun Godornes the Resource Development Director of World Vision Philippines says "We are doing this again because we believe you are the future. We want you to know how World Vision and this concert has aligned for the kids we are helping. We are commited to a better world for children, for education and their lives. We work alongside partners and donors to provide for communities, helping kids to reach their potential and live their dreams. We also give parents the chance to support their income so they could provide their families, become resilient in future disasters. Thank you to Mr. Ogie Alcasid our World Vision Ambassador."

Ogie Alcasid says "I'm turning 50, this is called Nakakalokal because it's the title of my album done with the ABSCBN Philharmonic Orchestra (already available in record bars and digital stores). The Philippines is known for great singers, and we are a talent pool of great songwriters, this is our way of saying thank you. There is great music being produced here, and we are proud of that. We have been working with World Vision as they celebrate their 60th anniversary. We believe the in the youth, to hopefully start their success with music, thank you to World Vision for giving us an opportunity to help. I have been a witness about how they are as an organization and if there is an opportunity to help, every minute with them, I don't bat an eyelash. We will have a lot of artists working with us as guests in the concert and they all said yes. You will see Angeline Quinto, Basti Artadi, Davey Langit, Erik Santos, Inigo Pascual, Jaya, Kyla, Lara Maigue, Leila Alcasid, Lovi Poe, Men and Music, and Ms. Yeng Constantino. All the proceeds of this concert will go to a fund designed to help in the cause for the prevention of exploitation of children. I hope you help us with the sale of tickets for this show (even though it is selling quite good he adds). I have been part of them for years, it's never been formal in an event until now. We all did it by heart, and I got invited to Zambales and met indigenous people and fell in love with them. They didn't know me, some of them do from the Bonux commercial (and laughed) and it was so heartwarming. They made musical instruments from tree branches and played it with so much gusto and it was entertaining. I had the chance to come back so I sent them some speakers for their sound system. When I arrived, they were ready. It geared me more to partner with them even more (World Vision) after that. I will be singing an all Filipino repertoire and I am singing some new songs, so I am equally excited for that. I also have a new album, I am very proud of it. I am excited to know what God has planned for me."

Richard Supat who is a former sponsored child gave a testimony and said "My sponsors were from around the world and I felt anchored to pursue my goals and dreams. I finished college, I met my sponsors and we didn't even talk, we just met and cried. I graduated with an MBA from La Salle and when we were at school, I told them I was one of the products of the organization. This organization isn't make believe, I have a better place to live in and finished school because of them."

Ogie Alcasid's 50th Birthday concert "NAKALALOKAL" will happen at the Kia Theater on August 25, Friday at 8pm. Tickets are on sale via Ticketnet http://www.ticketnet.com.ph or call 911-5555 or email them at ticketnet@ticketnet.com.ph. You're not just going to watch a nice man do his songs, but help a very worthy cause that helps kids recover from exploitation, which is a sad reality because it still happens. 

Help Mr. Alcasid help the foundation and the kids!

KUMAGCOW

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AirAsia Says #DareToDream This 2017 SEA Games

Are you proud of your country? We all are right? In some way or form.

The dates are finally approaching and the league of Southeast Asian nations will converge in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia for the Southeast Asian Games 2017. The SEAGames as you may all know is where countries from this region battle out for sports supremacy and pride for country. It's why AirAsia Philippines is forging a few more web video series telling the stories of our very own SEA Games athletes. They properly call it #DareToDream, a sports initiative to motivate and inspire future athletes and the Filipino public to rally behind them. 

During this time, you'll see the stories of phenom volleyball player Alyssa Valdez, swimmer Jessie Lacuna, long jump athlete Marestella Torres-Sunang. You will bare witness to all the hard work they put in training for every sport, the blood, sweat and tears, how they overcome challenges, and champion them. It will be hosted by equally talented volleyball player and my favorite Lady Archer, the feisty Michelle Gumabao.

If you want to watch the videos, make sure you like the Air Asia Philippines Facebook page at www.facebook.com/AirAsiaPH and follow the hashtags #DareToDream on all social media channels. Or check this video below, enjoy!

KUMAGCOW

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Lovi Poe and Vhong Navarro for "Woke Up Like This!"

I'm sure you've already seen the trailers playing on TV every now and then. There's a new movie in town and it's doubly crazy because funny man Vhong Navarro is switching genders with primera aktresa Lovi Poe in Regal Film's newest film called "Woke Up Like This!". For millenials this might feel like the instance where you take a selfie after waking up literally but for them, it's a little different. 

This might be their first pairing but you know this is going to be a riot because just imagine, an very athletic guy, with a very promising basketball career suddenly switches bodies with a very sought after supermodel. Seeing them do normal things suddenly became very funny as it looked totally slapstick and funny because they just couldn't get used to each other's bodies. How did it all happen? Maybe the heavens above had to teach them a lesson in how to not get all that fame into their heads. It is Direk Joel Ferrer's directorial debut, but it's already getting rave comments online as the last trailer they released already got 7 MILLION views. It will also star Joey Marquez, Bayani Agbayani, Cora Wadell, Dionne Monsanto, Yana Assistio and Raikko Mateo. Make sure you see Sabrina and Lando once it shows on theaters this August 23, they won't be throwing jokes if it ain't funny!

Direk Joel says "This is the first time that I'm working with a material that isn't mine and this is an ensemble cast, I am overwhelmed but I'm game to do anything so this was a blast to do."

Vhong adds "Lando will be Sabrina and Sabrina will be Lando so you have to know how crazy thay would be if it happens. Lovi and I already worked in the last Shake Rattle and Roll so we kind of know each other. This will test our chemistry on screen because sometimes comedy takes team effort. Lovi is hard to copy, but I found out how easy she is on set and she teaches me her ways. We talked about this a long time ago and had some similarities with Hollywood films, but our version is based here, and we are doing things that the kids could learn a thing or two from. I had difficulties learning how Lovi talks in English because she is refined, and you can't go overboard and not look like a gay person, but I do sometimes enjoy that. I also would like to experience how they go out on dates and not pay a single cent because I do that."

Lovi Poe adds "Working with Vhong is the greatest experience of all time, in comedy you should always enjoy what you are doing so this cast and the people behind them is just a perfect mix. The writers are all there during the shoot watching us like a hawk. We couldn't stop laughing and we have tons of bloopers. You need to have extra effort because he's Vhong and watch every scene that you do. He will tell me if I am going overboard. I have experienced pissing while standing up, and also how it is to be a little care free, walk around without a bra and just going to the set without any makeup or my hair done two hours before every shoot."

Bayani says "I am a fan of Vhong and I hope I get to do movies that he did in the past. You always see him do different things and that makes him unique. I always text him when I watch his show. I also watch Lovi in indie films and small projects so you couldn't really say but wow now that she's making us laugh."

The writers explained "The concept is light and timed right because there are just a lot of things happening in the country today. We want the characters to be really like normal people and we are glad that Regal trusted us with this. We have background in standup comedy so you will see those instances here, a lot of things will happen."

This film is under Regal Entertainment, Inc. They will be going around shows and promoting this film so stay tuned!

KUMAGCOW

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